Germans divided: Rising AfD influence shapes migration policy
Nearly half of Germans believe it is justifiable to cooperate with the far-right AfD party when democracy requires it. An example of this is the tightening of the country's migration policy.
The Christian Democrats, with support from the AfD, pushed for stricter migration policies in the Bundestag on Wednesday. The parliament adopted a motion from the CDU/CSU that calls for regular border checks and deportations of asylum seekers at Germany's borders.
The motion received support from 348 members of parliament, including those from the CDU/CSU, AfD, and FDP (liberals). Politicians from the AfD welcomed the motion's adoption with enthusiasm. "It's truly a historic moment," said Bernd Baumann, the parliamentary secretary of the Bundestag faction. He spoke about a "movement of opposition to the green-left mainstream" in all Western countries, which has now reached Germany.
This marks the end of the red-green dominance in Germany for good. A new era begins here and now, and we are leading it! emphasized Baumann.
Migration policy has become the most crucial campaign topic before the Bundestag elections, scheduled for February 23. Discussions intensified, especially after a knife attack on a preschool group last week in Aschaffenburg, Bavaria. A two-year-old boy and a 41-year-old man were killed.
Germany divided
Even before the vote, the public opinion research institute YouGov conducted a survey showing that 30% of Germans would not have a problem with a coalition with the AfD. Another 22% of respondents "do not see a problem in cooperating with the AfD on individual issues," according to Deutsche Welle.
Four out of five Germans believe that turning back immigrants at the borders is the right course of action.
